Chris has an M.A. in history and taught university and high school history.

In this lesson, we explore the Neo-Sumerian Period, a relatively short period in Sumerian history but one of immense economic and cultural growth and prosperity.

Neo-Sumerian Period

When I ask you what was America's 'Golden Age,' what do you think of? Perhaps you think of the Roaring 1920s and the relaxing norms of the era, or perhaps you think of the swinging 1960s and the age of free love and fantastic rock music. Whatever period you choose, you likely look upon it fondly as either an economic or cultural age of prosperity and growth. Well, it's not just in U.S. history that historians like to recognize trends and categorize ages. In ancient Mesopotamia, for example, the Neo-Sumerian period is considered a 'Golden Age' of that civilization's history.

Background

So, exactly who, what, and where are we talking about here? The Neo-Sumerian period refers to a period of the history of ancient Mesopotamia, specifically after the settlement of the Sumerians in Southern Mesopotamia. Sumerians likely settled in Mesopotamia sometime around 5000 B.C. Sumerian civilization grew upon the agricultural practices that humankind had been perfecting for a few millennia, and complex irrigation systems watered the fields that fed the cities that grew throughout the region. These cities developed their own politics, and sometime during the 4th millennium, the city-states began to be ruled by kings who dominated the city and the surrounding agricultural land.

For a period of approximately 600 to 900 years, these city-states expanded and made war with one another, with one dominating the region before waning and being replaced by another, more powerful city-state. Around 2300 B.C., this turnover was ended by King Sargon of Akkad, who instituted the Akkadian Empire. The power and scope of the Akkadian Empire eclipsed anything the previous city-states had managed to create. Despite the strength of the initial Akkadian Empire, it only ruled for roughly 100 to 150 years before the Empire was smashed by invaders from the east, the Gutians. The Gutians preferred looting and destroying Sumerian cities rather than ruling them, and most Mesopotamian writers lamented the period as one of the darkest in Sumerian history.

Restoring Order

Considering this, it should come as little surprise that the following period is generally considered one of rebirth and optimism. The Gutians were defeated by Ur-Nammu, later the King of Ur, who fought the Gutians across Sumer with allies from Lagash for nearly 20 years. After Ur-Nammu subsequently quelled his rivals in Lagash, he instituted the Third Dynasty of Ur, beginning what historians today call the Neo-Sumerian period. Ur-Nammu and his descendants reigned for about 150 to 200 years before the dynasty's decline.

Historians still debate the exact reason for the decline of the Third Dynasty of Ur, but the dynasty was likely undermined by Amorite migration into Sumer during the later generations of the period. In fact, Amorite encroachment upon Sumerian land was such a problem that during the reign of Shulgi, the Sumerians constructed an enormous wall, roughly 150 miles in length, to keep the Amorites out. Their attempts failed, and later, sometime in the 20th century B.C., the Elamites invaded and sacked the capital city of Ur. After the fall of Ur, the Amorites largely occupied Sumerian territory, and the end of the Neo-Sumerian period is generally considered the end of the Sumerian domination of Mesopotamia.

But the Neo-Sumerian Period is important for far more than simply reigning over ancient Mesopotamia for a couple centuries. This period saw some of the greatest works of art and architecture ancient Mesopotamia ever produced. For example, the great Ziggurat of Ur was produced during this period, an enormous step pyramid which served as both temple and administrative hub of the city. Human knowledge also advanced during the Neo-Sumerian period, as some historians credit the ancient Sumerians with creating the 60-second minute and the 60-minute hour.

Sumerians also constructed the first rudimentary schools in this period, and art and sculpture flourished in this period, as well. Ur-Nammu also developed one of humankind's first legal codes, one which Hammurabi built on when he produced his famous code. In addition, this period also saw the greater development of Sumerian folklore and religion, and the Sumerians first concocted versions of the Great Flood story and of resurrected deities - ideas which remain central to many religions today, including Christianity. For all these reasons, the Neo-Sumerian period is sometimes referred to as the 'Sumerian Renaissance.'

Lesson Summary

The Sumer civilization in ancient Mesopotamia, like any other civilization, experienced its highs and its lows. For example, under the Akkadian Empire, one city ruled the entire region only to be destroyed and pillaged by a neighboring people known as the Gutians. Regardless of earlier periods, the Neo-Sumerian period was arguably the civilization's zenith. Not only was the period relatively peaceful, with the entire region dominated by Ur-Nammu's descendants in Ur, but it also saw some of Mesopotamia's finest artistic and intellectual achievements. The great Ziggurat of Ur, for example, still stands today - over 4,000 years later! The Sumerians also constructed some of the humankind's first legal codes, schools, and a time system. In addition, many of the stories still used in today's most popular religions were first formulated in the Sumerian religious traditions of this era. The Neo-Sumerian Period's achievements were so many that the period truly deserves the term 'renaissance.'

Learning Outcomes

Study the lesson on the Neo-Sumerian Period, then attempt to:

Outline the conflicts that led up to the Neo-Sumerian Period

Discuss the establishment of the Neo-Sumerian Period

Express knowledge of the Sumerian Renaissance and the impacts that are still felt today

Summary:

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